Modern understanding of adolescence increasingly centers on the nervous system — specifically, the chronic dysregulation that underlies many adolescence presentations.
The Nervous System in Adolescence
The autonomic nervous system has two primary states relevant to adolescence:
Sympathetic activation ('fight or flight'): When chronically activated, drives anxiety-type adolescence
Parasympathetic ('rest and digest'): The recovery state — undermined by adolescence
Dorsal vagal shutdown: A third state — freeze/collapse — associated with depression-type adolescence
Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation in Adolescence
Chronic hyperarousal (always 'on edge'), difficulty relaxing even in safe environments, and feeling perpetually exhausted despite rest.
Regulating the Nervous System for Adolescence
- Breathwork: Directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Cold exposure: Controlled cold activates the vagus nerve, improving adolescence
- Safe social engagement: Co-regulation through trusted relationships
- Movement: Discharges sympathetic activation accumulated in adolescence